Push the Box is also a dual victory: a cute, family-friendly game with interesting (albeit easy) and engaging puzzle design. A game worth playing, with piggies worth saving.

If you download it expecting to be contented instead of wowed, your head is probably in the right place.

Haypi Monster doesn't quite hold a candle to Nintendo's multi-sequel juggernaut but it's probably the closest thing we iOS users will have to satiate ourselves for a while. Personally, I'd consider that a good thing.

I still think it's borderline criminal to create a game featuring rarity classifications and not include a trading feature, but hopefully that shows up down the line. If not, it's still a fun distraction.

Wordament is so well-built that pointing out faults feels like nitpicking. You do need to be online to play, and more annoyingly, you're sometimes thrust into a match with a minute left on the clock, which pretty much dooms you to a low score. A lobby option would be a nice addition, but as it stands, Wordament is one of the App Store's must-have word games.

Lost Treasures of Infocom can't quite decide which audience it's going for: existing interactive fiction fans or new players. It tries a few ease-of-use tricks to help attract interactive fiction newbies, but it also includes legacy things like scans of feelies, something that might confuse anyone who didn't grow up with packaged versions of the games.

It's quirky, unusual and oddly addictive to quickly burn through hand after hand against AI opponents. And when that gets tired, the excellent asynchronous mode should ensure you're playing against friends well into the future.

RAD Soldiers still offers smooth tactical action for the wartime enthusiast, and the turn-based gameplay functions on a high level of strategy and fun. But the game's lack of inventiveness in level design fails to make the experience stand out from other tactical war games on the market.

What's more, some players might find the game runs choppily on any iOS device that's not equipped with up-to-the-second hardware. It runs well on the iPhone 5, but there have been complaints of choppiness on the iPad 2, and it won't run at all on any iPhone that's older than a 4S. None of this is very surprising, as Karateka is one fine-looking game thanks to its smooth animations and gorgeous backgrounds.

The gameplay is the thing here though, and it remains as addictive as before. Feel free to bump this review score up another half-star if you've never experienced reverse tower defense done right, and prepare to spend some of your free time fending off our would-be robot overlords even if you have.

Arguably the best version of the game to date. With subtle enhancements of the hugely overhauled DS version, Square Enix has provided fans a reason to own the game on yet another system, and newcomers a chance to experience one of the series' greatest entries in peak form.

Nemo's Reef is still a worthwhile download for fans of the movie, or for anyone who's enthusiastic about underwater life. Just don't expect anything as thrilling as weaving in and out of the jaws of a Great White.

The open world aspect of Ravensword: Shadowlands is one of its big selling points, and it is fun to explore some non-linear adventures on your iOS device.

It just needs to be a fun little puzzle game that's well worth the price of admission. And when looked at in that light, Pudding Monsters is downright delicious.

Despite its technical hiccups and the odd menu design, Last Knight is still a fantastic romp through a vibrant medieval kingdom, with eye-popping visuals, incredible challenges, and just all-around fun. If this is the future of endless runner games, then sign me up, because I'm on my way to buy a new pair of running shoes.

Many of Knights & Dragons' bits and pieces seem like familiar mechanics that probably wouldn't stand out in a free-to-play crowd, but it's the combination of all of them - plus a shift in gameplay focus - that makes such a difference. Despite my initial impressions this is very much a kingdom worth saving. Even worth fighting for.

Buddha Finger is incredibly addictive and fun, and even though it's a humble iOS game, it's probably one of my personal favourites of the year.

All the improvements and cool aspects of the more fringe elements don't matter if the core isn't any good, and that's where Power Rangers Legends falters.

As movie tie-ins go, Monsters, Inc. Run is a great deal of fun – but it's also completely forgettable, and you'll have moved on to a new experience and pushed this one aside pretty quickly.

If you're a fan of word and grammar games you'll enjoy suffering with The Grading Game. But if you are or ever were a TA, you might want to gird your soul before playing. This one hits a little close to home.

If you can scratch up the right players and brew the right chemistry, One Million Monkeys is potentially one of the App Store's most entertaining word games.

The game itself is pretty standard for the genre, not taking too many chances by deviating from the established formula, but when it looks this good, is written this intelligently, and plays with such ease, you'll have a hard time saying no. The lure of filling out status reports and managing superhero nap times is too great to resist!

If you just want to play a few songs for nostalgia's sake, or get really, really good at tapping to "One-Winged Angel," this should be a suitable download. But if you'd like a fleshed-out game that feels like a true tribute to the fans, you won't find it on iOS yet.

As a social game on a mobile platform, Explorers of the Lost World plays great, and it looks even better.

Where Airborne Brigade feels different is first, its obvious Final Fantasy wrappings, and second, its focus on smaller groups and collaboration as opposed to highly competitive player-versus-player goals.

The decision by the team behind Battle of the Bulge to start with board game mechanics but implement them specifically for the platform has paid off handsomely. The result is an outstanding title that makes full use of its digital capabilities to smooth over complexity, deliver top-notch multimedia presentation and make an approachable-yet-compelling strategy game.

Our stodgy beliefs in the power of real human interaction aside, Playdek's digital take on Fluxx is just about everything fans of the card game could ask for. Here's to hoping that they add some in-app purchases down the road, because my life just won't be complete without Zombie Fluxx on my iPad.

Jet Trains could use a little more refinement in the early stages of race balancing, but for the most part it manages to be fun with minimal frustration.

It's amazing how Toca Boca continue to create things that manage to make everyday activities vastly entertaining, but whatever magic dust their developers sprinkle into the code, Toca Hair Salon 2 has it in abundance.

Playmobil Pirates is proof that it's possible to make a mobile game that appeals to younger gamers without dumbing it down, as well as a kid-oriented game that might also get some adults to try it. At the very least, parents shouldn't be too distraught about spending some time in the islands during the lengthy quest to bring Blackbeard to justice.

City Conquest stands as proof that the tower defense genre hasn't said its last word. It feels a little too ambitious at times (the RTS elements in particular sometimes suffer from a mild tacked-on feeling), but its beauty lies in the fact that it works in spite of that. If you're a fan of either tower defense or real-time strategy games, City Conquest is worth a look-particularly if you bring along a friend.

It's a shame the developer couldn't find a better way to put everything at your fingertips, but it's a necessary sacrifice to make the game iPhone compatible rather than iPad only.

Spellwood doesn't break a whole lot of new ground, but instead refines Scrabble-style gameplay into a fresh and engaging single-player experience. It's a bit one-dimensional, but if you like word games or just want to tune up your vocabulary a bit without turning your brain numb with boredom, it's definitely worth a look.

Frocket isn't a bad game by any means - the concept is solid, and it's all been well put together. Rather, there are a number of niggles that come together to create one almighty problem that takes away from what the game could easily be.

Fans of the little blue guys might get a kick out of playing Smurf Life for a few minutes, but they might also find the quests too tedious or confusing to complete. Chances are good that they'll retreat back to Smurf Village, and Papa Smurf's latest contribution to the Smurf race will die nameless and alone.

KnightScape ends up inhabiting a weird space where neither the course-running nor the combat really grab you on their own, yet they don't necessarily combine like Voltron to kick butt either. There are a number of mobile games where you can see what the developers were trying for clearly enough to lament when they don't make it there, and this feels like one of them.

While the main game is a little slow starting and takes a while to offer more challenging levels, the unlockable ones are actually quite good and may have you pondering the possibility of in-app purchases, either for hints or more content to explore.

Although the 90 levels currently available will take most players a decent amount of time to complete (and recomplete for higher scores), developer Not Doppler has stated even more stages are on the way. Hopefully the new levels will focus on the best parts of Bunny Cannon: creating combos of bunny multipliers, overflowing baskets with bunnies, and watching them bounce like crazy without flying off the stage.

With Game Center online scoreboards and achievements that we will no doubt be struggling to top for weeks to come, and more modes promised in the near future, Into the Dead is a bit of a must-have for mobile - especially if zombies hit your spot.

Party Place is a decent diversion, and if you get your real world friends in on the experience, it offers a nice virtual atmosphere to create lighthearted drama, customize your apartment, and become the social butterfly you always knew you were.

Even if you haven't been bitten by The Walking Dead phenomenon yet (horrible pun fully intended), if you like strategy games, you're going to want to give this one some of your time.

Northmark is not a terrible game, but it's not a great one either. For every tactically thrilling fight or interesting side quest, there's a dull slog-fest and excruciating piece of dialogue to put up with first. The developer has the technical aspects down fine, but could have improved the experience greatly by hiring a professional writer and spending a bit more time varying and balancing the card effects.

Despite the inclusion of an actual plot (comparatively speaking), a number of quest-giving characters, and plenty of fairytale creatures to care for, Tiny Castle can't quite sidestep the typical pitfalls of the genre. It's not without its charm, of course. There's also no shortage of tasks and quests to complete or animals to raise into adulthood and hybridize--it can just take an awful lot of waiting for meters to fill in order to get through it all.

For the desperate Wipeout fan who needs a futuristic racing fix, Flashout 3D is not unplayable. As a $2 game with more disappointments than features, it is one to wait on.

Magic Orbz is good, solid fun which takes a tried-and-true foundation and builds upon it nicely. It could do with a little more variety than what it offers, and can grow a little dull if played for longer stretches, but in quick bursts, it satisfies nicely.

If you're a first timer, there is fun to be had. But if you've been here before, and chances are you have, you might be better off reliving the classics of days gone by.

A rare game that feels at once fun and unique, and its design suits mobile platforms of all stripes.

The designation of "World" in its title just goes to show how large the scope of Chop Chop Ninja World truly is: from sidescrolling stages, to kingdom building, to competing in challenges with friends, fans of the series will find much to love here.

Dragon Slayer has its striking dragons and just enough creativity to ensure it won't be the last stop on the gravy train, and that's good enough for now.

Whether you're a veteran wordsmith or a noob looking to improve your vocabulary, Writer Rumble will have you hook, line, and sinker.

Clay Jam is an extremely satisfying experience shaped from mounds of sheer joy. Its graphics, creatures, music-and even the "tactile" response of gouging the clay world-are all constantly rewarding and hard to put down. For as often as I shouted in frustration at a quest, I laughed out loud ten times as much.

If you've utterly had it with endless runners, Team Awesome might not help you change your mind. You're still essentially running on a single path and sticking it to bad guys and objects. But if you just want to play a game that does something interesting and fun with the genre, go ahead and pull on your tights.

For a title that proclaims itself the first real mobile MOBA, Heroes of Order & Chaos is a good start. Until it gets those technical glitches smoothed out, though, that's all it's going to be. Play it now with a little bit of forewarning, and definitely check back on it in a few months to see if it improves on its promising beginning.

Ultimately, Bread Kittens suffers from a lack of depth. What's here is certainly enjoyable for a spell, and the presentation (both in terms of audio and visuals) is great, but there isn't quite enough to help the game stand out from the current influx of Pokemon clones.

Littlest Pet Shop is, in a word, adorable. The animals squeal and dance, and are rendered with tiny bodies, huge heads, and shimmering eyes. There's a decent amount of voice acting, and the cartoon's original actors all appear to be on board.

Skylanders Battlegrounds isn't a terrible experience by any stretch, but it's pretty far from what most adult players will hope for. And with the unforgiving controls, younger players may find little more than frustration waiting for them.

Kings Can Fly was a fun little adventure. Just difficult enough to be rewarding, but with just enough helpful gameplay features to ward off frustration. The core concept is well executed, and mistakes in planning are easy to correct which gives Kings Can Fly that coveted "just one more round" appeal. If you're a fan of puzzle adventures you should give this one a shot. You could certainly do far worse.

With its macabre concept art and enigmatic tone, The Secret Society: Hidden Mysteries has a lot of potential to be something great. But a boring, almost nonexistent story and countless design flaws weigh down what could have been an absorbing hidden object adventure. I'd wait a few weeks to see if this game gets a much-needed title update before trying this one.

Motley Blocks offers up an impressive package, with a simple yet challenging premise that tests your ability to balance speed and precision. There are loads of levels to unlock and a lot of helpful power-ups, each of which offer new ways to amend your strategy.

Taking a game from Wii to iOS probably wouldn't work for a lot of titles, but Rage of the Gladiator manages to do it with style. It turns out the motion controls weren't essential to the experience, and anyone who enjoys boxing, gladiator or mobile action games in general are probably going to find something they like here.

A game that seems like it's trying to wheedle even more cash out of you despite its base price tag. It's still fun, and one of the better examples of tower defense on the market, but it's hard to escape the impression that Bloons TD 4 wasn't so piratical in its drive to urge you to spend premium currency.

Taken on its own merits, Reign of Dragons is an excellent iOS CCG that's sure to provide hours upon hours of enjoyment and habit-forming card gathering. The problem is that it's extremely difficult for anyone who's dabbled in Mobage's cash cow not to start a mental comparison.

Monster Hospital could have been simplified a bit to make it more instantly engaging, but the resulting product has a good amount of depth and quite a bit of staying power. It's a grind, for sure, and one that relies a little too much on in-app purchases to keep things moving, but everything else falls right into place, creating a game that's entertaining, funny, challenging, and just so darn cute!

So beguiling, so entrancing that the intrusion of something as mundane as money, blundering in to break the glamour, seems almost perverse -- But it does. A shame that the result is pockmarks on the face of perfection.

Jewel Mania's problem, then, is that it never dares to be different.

Aside from a few missteps in design, Mirrors of Albion is still an incredibly ambitious game that has a lot of heart, and is perfect for social and hidden object gamers of all ages. If you're looking for a different kind of hidden object game, or a social game with a magical twist, then this imaginative romp through London might be just the fit for you.

Even if its story isn't quite all there, Found: A Hidden Object Adventure still offers a fun blend of social and hidden object gameplay, with great visuals and intriguing locations. It's an exciting journey for adventurers of all ages, but one that puts too much emphasis on the "pay to play" model of a "free to play" game.

Despite these issues, Skylanders Lost Islands is not a game that feels incomplete. If you know a youngster who's a fan of Skylanders, or if you're a fan yourself, take a second to introduce your plastic pals to the Mabu's island home.

I say this with no irony: Heads Up! Hot Dogs is one of the best arguments for smartphone/tablet gaming I've seen yet.

Real Boxing wants to be the iPad's answer to Punch-Out for Wii, but instead, well… it just makes me want to go out and buy a copy of Punch-Out for Wii again. Flailing your arms can be plenty of fun, but unless those flails are going to translate into on-screen action 99% of the time, it just ends up feeling like an exercise in futility.

A decent and relatively funny freemium monster trainer. It certainly makes good use of some fantastic creature designs and more than a few memorable characters. The only problem is it tends to get in its own way half the time once monsters start to get hurt.

If you're a fan of endless runners and want a change of pace, there's plenty of fun to be had in Verticus. Just be ready for a challenge – and due to some perspective frustrations, that challenge may sometimes be an unintentional one.

If you just want to spend a few hours smashing monsters with a hammer and unleashing rune magic, Wraithborne can definitely help you out with that. Just keep in mind that it's probably going to be more a fling than a long term relationship.

As you may have surmised, Micro Miners is not a game for those who frustrate easily -- Simple controls or not, it's one tough cookie. For those in the market for a mobile game with a bit of a kick, though, it ought to scratch that itch just fine.

Every level is worth at least one play-through thanks to some excellent platforming and simple puzzle elements that force the brain to work a few steps ahead. Don't let the look of this title fool you--it's quite exciting and requires a sharp mind. Some variety in goals would be nice, but these are more petty wants added on to a really solid experience.

Gear Jack has its moments, but you might not even be able to enjoy its strengths unless you really enjoy getting booted back to "Go" every time you mess up. If that sounds like the kind of challenge you've been lusting for, though, Jacky will be happy to be your new robot pal.

It's a near-perfect introduction for anyone interested in card-collection iOS games, as well as a great title for anyone interested in online CCGs looking for something a little less "intense" than the average offering. Aside from a few irritating framerate hiccups and load times, I'd say it's a great fit.

FreeSkate Xtreme is a fun ride, at least for a little while. As with most endless runners, it all comes down to how you feel about single-stage repetition and beating high scores, though we will say that we did enjoy this one more than some others we've played.

A freemium offering with great visuals and challenging gameplay, Storm The Train is a worthy addition to any iDevice.

Potential players should be aware that it's not exactly reinventing the wheel.

But if you're active in the MLP fandom and you have cash to burn, it's probably worth the money and effort necessary to make a town that's worth showing off. Friendship is Magic, but envy is a heck of a motivator, too.

Keeping with the kid-friendly tone of Wizard101, the monsters in Grub Guardian look more cuddly than menacing.

No matter where you stand on all of this, I think we can all agree that server issues are a total bummer. Curiosity suffers from them, and at times it kept me from even firing the game up. I'm hopeful the issue will be fixed in a forthcoming patch, but as of now it's a pretty big annoyance.

In truth, that's perhaps what I enjoyed most about About Love, Hate, and the other things: the fact that - despite its flaws - it remains an artfully assembled, surprisingly emotive puzzler that aims for something better than "addictiveness." Rather, this is an experience designed to feel wonderful while it lasts.

A title that gets to the heart of every sci-fi fan in its tone, presentation, and storytelling. It's fun, funny, action-packed, and has the good sense to not take its own lore too seriously.

In a pinch, it's great for a quick Star Fox fix. Beyond that, it's an amazing arcade shooter that's easy to lose yourself in. I'm heading back in; all aircraft report.

As Martha Stewart might say if she was into D&D in her younger days, that's a good thing dungeon master.

Kingdoms of Middle-earth may be a competent release, but it's also a soulless one.

Word Smack has the appearance of a game that values substance over style. The trouble is that there's not a whole lot of substance here either.

As an Angry Birds game, it's great. As a Star Wars tie-in, it's great. Overall, Angry Birds Star Wars is everything you were hoping for, and it handily proves skeptics wrong.

MLB: Full Deck is a game on the wrong side of the Mendoza Line. It's free, so you don't have much to lose if you want to try it, but ultimately it's a letdown on both sides of the coin: There's not enough collectible card action for CCG fans, and there's not nearly enough baseball for baseball fans.

With gameplay both difficult and satisfying, Nutty Fluffies has that just-one-more-time appeal that so many games in the mobile space strive for.

A mediocre game trying to sneak by on the coattails of greatness.

I've been incredibly impressed with Gameloft's recent free releases. World at Arms is no exception. It takes the concepts found in more typical base builders, speeds things up a bit, and tosses in a wealth of interactive elements to make something that feels more like a game and less like ticking a few boxes and waiting.

It's hard to take credit away from Air Patriots for trying to do something new, especially when it works. But it only works on the gameplay side of things. Although you'll have fun playing this game, you won't enjoy finishing the first map and then being told to pony up some cash to unlock the next one.

In navigating the tension between reverence for something old in a new package, Disney have done a wonderful job at delivering an experience that deftly straddles nostalgia and novelty. Next time you're in the mood for some great pint-sized play, save your bag of quarters. You only need four.

Nun Attack is fun and has a pretty good amount of content, but it's probably better to experience it at a slower pace rather than trying to rush straight through. Doing so risks having the novelty and game mechanics start to feel a little like you're just going through the motions.

He-Man: The Most Powerful Game in the Universe is shallow and straightforward, but it's fun. In fact, it's the most fun you can have with He-Man outside of re-watching your grainy VHS collection or engaging in grownup He-Man roleplay.